My Account
Improving youth mental health by creating a sense of community was a focus point at both the Local Body election candidates meeting and the Rodney Neighbourhood Support AGM last month – but it seems that some of the youth are getting it sorted themselves.
Elliot Murdoch, 20, organised more than 50 people aged 17 to 27 to play popular field games Spotlight and Kick the Bucket at the Ōrewa skatepark on Friday, August 30.
Elliot arranged the event to give young people some uncomplicated fun. “You can forget about uni, work and whatever else you have on and act like a kid again,” he said.
However, it is fair to say that some of the behaviour, by a few of the partipants, was immature, rather than childlike – including general larking around and drinking.
“It was crazy with everyone all over the place,” Elliot said. “But I’m pretty stoked with how it turned out. I got good feedback from people playing and even some who were just watching, so that was really good.”
He is unsure whether he will hold another public event, but if so he says he will ask the young people what they would like it to include.
